Kyle Shanahan has high hopes for 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall entering the 2025 NFL season.
San Francisco’s head coach told reporters Wednesday that Pearsall can be the 49ers’ newest “YAC Bro,” referring to the team’s yards-after-catch club established by aerial threats Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk during the trio’s prime in the Bay.
“I think anytime you have really good hands, that’s where it starts with having yards after the catch,” Shanahan said at 49ers practice in Santa Clara. “How quickly you can stop the spin of a ball, tuck it away and get immediately vertical usually has to do with how good your hands are. Ricky is very good at that. Then other stuff goes into breaking tackles and stuff.”
After recovering from his infamous gunshot wound, Pearsall collected 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns over 11 games during the 2024 season.
Pearsall is primed to be one of star quarterback Brock Purdy’s top targets in 2025, with Aiyuk and fellow wide receiver Jauan Jennings currently sidelined due to injuries and, of course, because Samuel was dealt to the Washington Commanders during the offseason after San Francisco honored his trade request.
Shanahan reflected on the former 49ers star’s run-after-catch ability when finishing his answer about Pearsall.
“Deebo was elite at that because of how big he was and how powerful he was,” Shanahan said. “Then some guys get yards after the catch because they can run away from everybody. But usually, the guys who have yards after the catch are guys who don’t mess around and catch it clean, get right up the field.
“That to me always starts with your hands and leads to the mindset of how you play football.”
Samuel, Kittle and Aiyuk are three players known for their abilities to extend plays after their initial receptions with their speed, physicality and elusiveness.
Purdy and San Francisco will be in business if they can get Pearsall to replace Samuel as the 49ers’ newest “YAC Bro.”
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